Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-12-22


lar day the old weathor-beaten house seemed
/ TO invite me within
Here" ] mused, my little Bessie can
obtain glimpse Of life the very opposite OF
her own Joyous existence, and the contrast
can not fail to give her higher apprecia-
ion of the blessings she enjoys"
/ Accordingly we alighted The kindly
faced matron, who admitted us, on learning
| the oil ject OF our visit, conducted us ut once
| to the largo, common sittiDg-roOm, where
was motley company OF people Of all ages,
I from the palsed old man, apparently on the
verge of the grave, to the infant in arms
The men and women, all Of whom bore
unmistakablc marks Of helpless decrepitude
or hopeless hnbecility, were lowering about
huge, old-fashio cd stove in the center of
the room This, with the several )ol-
chairs on which they sat. and two long Sot-
tees ranged against the wall, completed its
cherries appointments
outside this circle the children diverted
themselves as best they might, their little
feet patteriDg TO and fro over the bare floor
The furious barking OF n small dog soon AZ
tracted our attention He seemed 10 have
const tutcd himself the guardian Of a frail
little creature who sat apart on one Of the
set,ees, for he barked the louder the nearer
we approached, never leaving his station at
her side.
soh mammal" exclaimed Bessie, in CAD
surprise, -if IL isn't Fido"
Yes, there could be no mistake II was
her own little dog, that we had given up
for lost almost a year before For, on his
collar. precludng the possibility of a doubt.
was his name in large legiblc characters
which myse had stamped there
At the sound OF her familiar voice calling
him, he ceased barking and bounded TO
meet her. frisking and wagging his tail in
joyful recognition
Finding herself thus unexpectedly de-
serted, the child on the settee cast a fright
ened, appealing look about her and burs;
into tears @Don't take him away" she
sobbed Come back, Fido, IRoas come
back have no one to love me only you =
As If comprchendlng her words and wish
ing to atone for his seeming lack Of fidelity,
he turned and in another moment was lick
ing her hands and tear stained face In n
most sympathetic and reassuring manner
II was now b ssie's turn TO be fearful, but
few low-sr zen words from me brought
her 10 a realIA.ng sense Of the poor child's
lonely and love'ess condition, and with her
this meant self-forge funess and generous
wish 20 help
@rl give him to you" she said, lnpul-
sively
sHe ia already mine" replied the child.
evidently wondering at Bessio's presump-
ton -Santa Claus sent him to me-
"Oh, OH" circulated Bessie. and then she
led her on with eager questioning TO tell
how, last Christmas morning while she
and mamma were out for walk, Edo had
come straight up 10 them Just rs II he knew
them; how he had followed them home,
though mumma would not let her call him,
and how after mamma had taken him back
TO the street he had returned and whined
ut the door until at last she had opened
u for him and had called him Nellie's
Christmas gift And she, Nellie, had felt
sure that Santa Claus had sent him be-
cause, as mamma had feared, he found the
long, winding stairs leading 70 their room
too steep and toilsome 10 climb with his
heavy load
And where is mamma nOwy" / asked
Gone to Heaven" Aud the pale lips
quivered as she spoke.
Desp,y moved, turned 10 the matron
aud FROM hor learned all that was known
Of this, 10 me- strangely interesting child
Her name was Nellie Martin. She had
been brought there some th-ee months be-
fore from n comfortless room In tene-
ment house, where her mother had died
leaving her uncared for and alone save for
the companionship of little Pido.
BY the time this recital was ended Bessie
and its subject, with that freedom from
all conventional restraints characteristic
Of children, had become. ns IL were, Old ac-
quaintance4 Sitting side by side with FidO
stretched across both their laps, they bent
in grave consultation over a fragment Of
newspaper with which we had found Nellie
engaged. and which now, under their com
bined efforts, had grown into something
like the scmblance Of doll pretty pict-
ure they made and, ~ looked at them.
could not help wishing that all the world
was as free from the traminels of rank az
they.
sssio took reluctant leave OF Fido and
his adopted mistress promising TO visit
them again soon and bring her new friend